Freddy Eastwood still short of fitness despite reserves brace

SAMMY Clingan took a major step back towards full fitness with an hour in the reserves to put him in contention for Coventry City’s trip to Derby on Saturday - but two-goal Freddy Eastwood is still short of fitness to be considered for the first team.

SAMMY Clingan took a major step back towards full fitness with an hour in the reserves to put him in contention for Coventry City’s trip to Derby on Saturday - but two-goal Freddy Eastwood is still short of fitness to be considered for the first team.

Eastwood marked his long-awaited return to action with two goals in the 3-2 win over Chesterfield’s second string but is understood to still be some way off the required standard of fitness.

The striker’s first goal was a quickly taken free kick and the second saw him beat a player and smash a shot into the bottom corner.

But asked if he is tempted to stick him on the bench at Pride Park, manager Andy Thorn said: “It’s only his first game back after a long time out.

“It was good for him to get a game under his belt but he needs games.

"He scored a couple but with all due respect we are talking about Chesterfield Reserves here, so we’ll have to see how he goes.”

Eastwood has not started a single game all season, making just one substitute appearance in the goalless Ricoh Arena draw with Watford back in August.

As for the City skipper, who has been sidelined with a broken toe, Thorn added: “He played 60 minutes and came through all right but he’s not played for nearly five weeks.

“But it is really good to have him back, as it is Jordan Clarke who also played for an hour. But again, he needs games as well but it is great that we have got players on their way back.”

James McPake and Roy O’Donovan were the only other senior players to get a run out for Lee Carsley’s side who spurned the opportunity of taking an early lead when Shaun Jeffers was brought down for a penalty, only for O’Donovan to see his spot-kick saved by the goalkeeper.

City battled back from 1-0 down with Eastwood’s brace putting them in front after the break and then teenager Jonson Clarke-Harris waded in with a sharp header to make it three before the visitors pulled it back to 3-2.

Meanwhile, Thorn is still waiting for the results of Richard Wood’s scan on his sore groin.